“You beat me that night, I respect that, but it would never happen again,” Miocic wrote. “I carried the torch in this division for a long time. I’ve been staying up all night with my newborn daughter and I still offered to fight you Nov 3. with ZERO camp weeks ago.”

Cormier defeated Miocic by first-round knockout in the UFC 226 main event back in July to become the promotion’s latest two-division titleholder (highlights). While “DC” was expected to make another title defense at 205 pounds before the end of the year, the UFC 230 fight card called for desperate measures.

In addition to UFC 230, Cormier is expected to remain at heavyweight for the return of Brock Lesnar, who will table his duties in professional wrestling to challenge “DC” for the division strap, unless Lewis can upset the apple cart.